History of the
Village Hall - 1928-2000
The Hall was built by
public subscription at a total cost (to build and furnish)
of £395-7s-3d! It is a wooden building, and over the years
its outside bucket toilets have been replaced with inside
flushing toilets and its coal-burning stove has been
replaced by electricity.
In 1963 the
asbestos sheeting walls were replaced with wooden cladding,
changing the appearance considerably.
Later a porch and
toilets for the disabled were added, along with storage
space and changing rooms for sports teams, which altered the
hall to its current appearance.
The Hall was
opened on 27th September 1928 with a concert and a dance.
Entertainment was provided by the Cambridge based "Odds and
Ends" Concert Party. Over the last 73 years the hall has
served the village well with dances, concerts and village
pantomimes. It has been the venue for art, craft and local
history exhibitions, and has been the focal point for many
celebrations including two Coronations, VE and VJ nights and
the Millennium Celebrations. The hall helped the wartime
effort with the Red Cross and the Home Guard and as a school
for evacuated children.
Nearly all village
organisations and many individuals currently use the hall,
with 200-300 visits being made in a typical week. It is a
home for Mothers and Toddlers, the Pre- school, the
over-60's, the youth club, the parish council, the Scottish
Country Dancing Club, the W.I., the Bingo Club, and the
Football, Rugby and Cricket Teams. Each week any villagers,
young and old pass through its doors, ) some more than
once!
The Hall is now
nearing the end of its life and plans are afoot to build a
new Village Hall, Sports and Community centre, to provide
the village with the facilities it both needs and deserves.
This is a major
project for which for which any donations will be gratefully
received. Any sizeable donations will be acknowledged on a
plaque inside the new hall, as will all in. memoriam
donations. Pay for the entire hall and we will be happy to
name the new hall after you or your family!
National
Affiliation: the Village Hall Management Committee
subscribes to A C R E
Council
Contact: Cllr. Kim Baker
Current
Committee Members:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Bookings
Secretary: Sandra
Trustees:
Mrs Cynthia Worboys, Mrs Jane Robson, Mrs Doreen Mitchell,
Mrs Penny Gattrill-Smith
Annual
Activities: The Village Show in September, when most
villagers attend as do many former residents. Many other
regular fund-raising events are held in or around the hall
throughout the year.
Recent Maior
Events: Two performances were arranged through "Arts
in Cambs on Tour": The Parsons Tale and the Ian Shaw Trio.
Both attracted large audiences and were thoroughly enjoyed.
The Hall was also used as the venue for most of the
Millennium Celebrations, including the New Years Eve Patti
and Disco, followed by a Champagne Breakfast on New Years
Day morning, and the Millennium Family Picnic in July 2000
